Hodgepodge

I forced my heavy eyelids to open as I heard my alarm “damdidam” playing on my cell phone.The room is dark, except for the faint light coming from my neighbor’s porch outside through my bare glass bedroom window.Except for my alarm, everything else is quiet.

I lazily picked up my cell phone and peered on the screen…its 5:00 am.Ugh, having to wake up at this wee hour of the morning is effing torture.I’m still not used to rising up before the cheery sun does.

I was on the verge of hitting the snooze button but immediately stopped myself and I pressed the stop button instead—and for this, I think I deserve a good tap on the shoulder. The idea of snuggling deeper into the warm covers and going back to sleep is so enticing yet giving in is definitely not a choice…but still I lingered for a few minutes…

Suddenly, vivid recollections from my “oh so high school years” came flooding back— my mom waking me up and shouting my name at the top of her lungs from downstairs.Hmmm, ok, I may be exaggerating a bit but that’s how it’s done in my family, or back in the province I should say…^^

Then fifteen minutes before I’d be late for school, I’d go down the stairs and the aroma of freshly cooked breakfast waiting to be devoured on the table would greet me.Because my mom would normally lecture me about developing stomach ulcer once I miss breakfast, I’d force down a few mouthfuls before heading for the bathroom where warm water is waiting for my bath…

(A quiet sigh)…

A teenage girl with no major responsibilities and hungry for total independence—that was me back home with my parents 7 years ago.

Now life is packed with challenges cuz now I have both… and I relish every mo of it.

Yep, I do pout and complain at times, cry my heart out some days, or even go ballistic when things go poorly, which directs to the mere fact that I don’t live life with tranquility.But then I am extremely hopeful for things to get better and I have faith that things will work themselves out in time.

By all odds life is full of surprises… and a lot were thrown at me lately, including my one great source of inspiration. ^^

The loud barking of the neighbor’s dog outside jolted me back to the present.

It’s still dark outside.I checked the time for the second time.

It’s 5:15.

I have exactly 30 minutes to get ready for work.I uttered a short prayer and with surprising energy, I threw back the comfy covers and got up, mentally preparing myself for the cold shower that is about to wash the remaining streaks of my grogginess away…